Current deflector



NwQzs, 1924.

L. H. FALLEY CURRENT DEFLEGTOR Filed May 19, 19.22 4 Shets-Sheet l Nov. 25, 1924,.v

L. H. FALLEY n CURRENT DEFLECTOR 'Filed May 19 1922 4 SheetS-Sheeil'l 2 www.

Nov, 25, 1924.

4 L. H. FALLEY CURRENT DEFLECTOR Filed May 19, 19.52 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ve/liar;

Patented Nov. 25, i924.

LEWIS H. FALLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNR TO IVI. H. FALLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CURRENT DEELECTOR.

Application led'May 19, 1922. Serial No. 562,142.

To all fw 710m t may concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs H. FALLEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kansas City, county of Jackson, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Current Deflectors, of which the Jfollowing is a complete specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in waterways, streams or the like, 'for the purpose of modifying the current movements and thereby controlling the action of the current as regards its properties both `tor collecting material in suspension and for precipitating the same.

Accordingly, I have devised a novel and eiiicient battle or current-interrupting and detlecting structure adapted to be submerged in the stream or current and so constructed as to intercept the current flow and deflect the same in a manner dependent upon the particular shape or contour of the baiiie elements and the particular angular position given the structure.

Preferably. the battle construction which I employ comprises a member carrying a plurality oi". batlie or deiiecting tee-th or lingers of curved or twisted o-utline tor imparting the modifying influence upon the current, and the construction is such as to be susceptiblecof great variation as to the particular style, shapev and arrangement ot the battle elements and position of use, in accordance with the specific eiects adapted to be produced as regards the modification ot the main current.

With these general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating various practical forms o'lf embodiment of the improvements, after which those features deemed to be novel will be particularly set torth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side, end and edge views, respectively, of one torm ot baille structure embodying the present invention;

Figure et is a side elevation illustrating said struc-ture supported in operative position in a stream;

Figure 5 is a plan 'View of the structure and supporting means shown in Figure t;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line VI-VI ot Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating different operative positions ot said bai-lie structure;

Figure 8 is a 'side view illustrating a modi- [ied form of the baffle structure;

Figure 9 is a plan view illustrating two different operative positions of the same;

Figures 10 and 11 are side and edge views, respectively, of another form of the baflie structure;

Figure 12 is a side view of a. modified Jform ot mounting for the battle structure shown in Figures 10 and 11, with dotted lines representing the baile member shifted into a different position upon its pivot;

Figures 13 and 111 are side and edge views, respectively, ot another modified form ot the batlie structure;

Figures 15 and 16 are side and end Views, respectively, ot still another form of the construction Figures 17 to 2O are elevations illustrating still other modified forms ot construction, each mounted in operative position;

Figure 21 is a detail plan view of a portion of 'the baliie structure shown in Figure 19; c

Figure 22 is a plan view of a baffle member of the same type ot construction as the battle elements shown in Figure 20;

Figures Q3 and 24C are side and top plan views, respectively, illustrating another pivotally adjustable form of baille member, with dotted lines in Figure 2 representing the battle member in a different position of adjustment;

Figure 25 is a view similar to Figure 23 but showing'the baffle member inverted;

Figures 26 and Q7 are side and top plan views, respectivelylshowing another form ot baflie construction; and

Figures 28 and 29 are similar views illustrating a still further form ot construction.

Certain forms or baille constructions have heretofore been used for deflecting the current movements of waterways, streams and the like; but without any provision tor exerting any controlling effect upon the currents action as regardsits collection of material or the precipitation of the same. There a baffle construction is used whichfhas no provision tor imparting or setting upany minor centrifugal or swirlingcurrents at the same time that the main current is detiected, such a construction will not accomplish any particulll larly effective results as regards the displacing, moving and transferring, and the deposit of sand, silt or other material with which the water of the current becomes charged. In each of the forms of the baffle construction comprising the present invention, which will hereinafter be described, specific provision is made for not only baffling and deflecting, while in some cases retarding and in other instances somewhat accelerating, the movement of the current, but also to establish or set up what may be termed centrifugal minor currents, usually in great number, according to the number of the loaflie elements carried by each of the baille members; and in each case, the direction of the deflect-ion, and hence the character and energy of the resultant minor current, is determinedby the outline or shape of the in- `dividual bafl'le element, its pitch, and the angle aty which it is disposed with relation to the path or direction of How of the main curtrent" in which the baflie structure is submerged.

Referring now to Figures l to 6, inclusive, these views illustrate one ofthe forms of the construction as comprising a baflie member 30, the opposite ends of which are provided with spindles 31 whereby said member may be mounted for tilting movement in bearings 32 which may be supported in any suitable manner, as by upright posts 33, for presenting the baffle member in its operative relation to the current of a stream as illustrated in Figure 4. Preferably, the baffle member 30 isformed with two longitudinal sets or rows of baiiie teeth r fingers 34C projecting in substantially opposite directions from the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the member 3U. These baffle elements or fingers 34 are of curved andrsomewhat twisted contour (see Figures l to 3) for the purpose of not only breaking up and deflecting the current but also imparting a vigorous twist or swirl to each minor current thus produced by the individual baiiie elements, from which it will be understood that the main current on striking the balile member is at first retarded, then broken up and deflected into a plurality of minor centrifugal or swirling currents following a direction as determined by the direction of curvature of said deflecting fingers 34:. The baflie member is preferably supported at more or less of an angle to the horizontal, as represented in Figures and G. and since the lower baffle lingers are bent oppositely to the upper fingers 34, they will have the same deflecting action and hence produce the saine modifying effect as the upper baflie fingers.

Referring to Figure 7, the baflie member shown at the right in said view is in position for intercepting the main current, and breaking the same up and dellecting the re` sultant minor currents to the right in such a manner as would be required for the building up of a bar as indicated at 35 by the deposit of the material suspended in the water, it being evident that such material is at once precipitated on the slowing down or retarding of the minor centrifugal swirls set up by the action of the baffle fingers. When the upper sets or rows of baffle ngers 34 are arranged in forwardly extending position and turned to the right as shown in Figure 7, the deflection of the minor currents will be to the right as indicated by the arrows at the right in Figure 7, whereas by simply inverting the baffle member 30 it is apparent'. that the upper set or row of baffle lingers will be turned toward the left, with the result that the deflection of said minor current would likewise be to the left. On the other hand, if the baffle member bereversed end for end, with the upper baffle .fingers projecting rearwardly and to the left, the result will be a deflection of the minor current produced by said fingers downwardly and to the right, while invertthe baille member in this position, so that the upper baffie lingers will point rearwardly and to the right, the result will be a deflection of the minor currents produced. by the baflie in a downward direction to the left; these downwardly moving secondary currents will be obviously of a character to exert a digging or excavating action useful for removingl soil or sandy material from the bottom of a. stream for shaving down an embankment or bar and directing the material thereof to another point. In actual operation, the use of the baffle construction for carrying out the excavating function may be by means of simply one of the baffle members or by the use of a combination of two or more of them for not only excavating but controlling the movement of the material-to be transferred, according to the particular requirements to be dealt with. ln each case, furthermore,` the angle at which the baflie member is disposed to the horizontal may vary, as well as the angle at which said member' is presented transversely with reference to the current it intercepts, this angle being made more extreme in some instances as illustrated to the left in Figure 7 where the dcflected secondary currents are being directed to the left at a rather sharp angle approaching a right angle.

Another function of the operation illustrated in Figure 7 is the protection afforded by the baffle structure to that area or Zone from which the water of the stream is being deflected by the action of the baflie structure, which is extremely useful in those ,ases where it is desirable to prevent the wearing away or erosive action of the water current, as, for examgle, to prevent the cutting away of banks or bars, or to shield such structures as piers, docks, bridge abutments and the' like from the damaging effects often resulting from the prolonged action of water currents.

When the baille member 30 is pivotally mounted as illustrated in Figure 4, its pivotal movement is limited by means of a plate 36 secured to either end of the member, and adapted for engagement with a stop finger 37 projecting from the adjacent upright 33, thereby limiting the backward pivotal movement of the member 30 while allowing it to rotate forwardly in case alog or other floating object being carried by the current and engaging the upper portion of the baffle member, the latter being permitted to tip in the direction of the current for releasing such floating object without incurring any damage to the baflie structure.

In Figure 8, I illustrate the baffle construction as taking the form of a baffle member 40 supported in downwardly inclined position from the upper end of a post or upright 42 and provided with curved and somewhat twisting deflecting fingers 44 arranged in two parallel sets or rows both projecting backwardly or in opposition to the direction of the current of the stream, as indicated in Figure 9. This form of baflie member is adapted to be supported by means of an upright post 42 mounted in the bed of the stream, with said member 40 arranged at more or less of an angle (see Figure 8), whereupon the minor or secondary currents created by the action of the baffle elements will be directed downwardly at an angle toward the bed of the stream, as represented by the arrows in Figures 8 and 9, thus operating with a digging or excavating action tending to loosen up the material at the bottom of the stream so that the material thus excavated can be caught up and carried away with the water current. This form of baffle member can, of course, be set at any angle required, as, for example, for the purpose of exerting its action upon a bar or embankment which is to be cut away and the material thereof transferred to another point. Hence .the structure may be variously arranged, and in Figure 9 is sho-wn the baffle member of Figure 8 in plan view, and also a baffle member 41 of the same type but with a greater number of bafiie elements 44 and arranged in advance of the member 4() in position for carrying out the digging or excavating operation still further and also defiecting the seconda-ry currents to that point where it is sought to have the material deposited, as indicated at 45. Thus the baffle member 41', with the defiecting fingers arranged as shown, combinesthe simple current intercepting and deflecting function of the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7, with an excavating 0r digging function, the effect of which may likewise be varied in accordance with the angle at which the said member 41'y is located with reference to the main current of the stream.

In Figures 10 and 11, I illustrate a type of bafiie member 46 formed with bafiie fingers 47 of curved and somewhat twisted outline and projecting in opposite oblique directions from the opposite sides of said member 46, and the two sets of fingers 47 being bent in opposite directions. The member 46 is adapted to be supported in inclined position (opposite from that shown for the baffle member 40 in Figure 8) by means of an upright member 42 and with one of the sets of fingers 47 submerged and the other set of said fingers projecting above the water level, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10. llVith this construction, it is apparent that the baffle member 46 may be so disposed with relation to the main current that both sets of baiiie elements 47 will exert a combined lifting and defiecting action, and therefore in the event of a rise in the stream or waterway due to freshets or other natural causes the upper baffle elements, as

they become submerged, will continue the deflecting action of the lower baffle elements with a view to controlling or defiecting the rising current into any desired direction and causing` the sand or other material carried by the current `to be deposited at the desired location. In Figure 12 is illustrated a modified form of supporting mea-ns for the same type of baffle structure, the baffle meinber 46 being pivoted, as indicated at 48, upon the upright 42, and carrying a suitable counterweight 49 for maintaining that end of the member 46 carrying the baffle structure at the required elevation. This elevation may be conveniently regulated by means of a stop or limiting screw 50, as shown, As illustrated by the dotted lines in said View, the pivotal mounting of the baiiie member 46 allows it. to be deflected by the action of any floating object near the surface of the stream, so that such objects may pass without material hindrance and likewise without doing any injury to the baffle structure, the counterweight 49 immediately returning` the baffle structure to normal position as determined by the adjustment of the' screw 50.

ln Figures 13 and 14 is illustrated a baflie member 30 formed with two sets or rows of baffle elements or fingers 34, the construction being similar, in general, to that form of baflie member illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, with the difference that clearance spaces 52 are provided between the bafiie fingers 34 for the purpose of reducing the retarding action of the baffle member upon the current, which is desirable under certain conditions, particularly in some of the more pronounced angular positions of the baffle. structure. y

In Figures and 16-is illustrated another form of the baiile structure especiallv adaptedfor the digging or excavating function, the same comprising a baille member 53 provided with two rows or sets of baille elements or lingers 54 extending at substantiallyy right angles to each other, and with the extremities of the upper elements or fingersy 54` bent at a. sharp angle, as indica-ted at 55. lith the contour and arrangement of baille elements illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, and with said elements projecting oppositely to the direction of the current ilow, it is apparent that the latter w-ill be deflected downwardly in the/direc tion of the arro .is in Figure 16, in such a way as to exert amore vigorous and eil'ec tive excavating eilect than characterize-s the forms of construction shown in the preceding views.

InFigures 17, 18, 19 and 21 are illustrated forms of baille structures adapted to be lofatedl in operative relation to the bottom of a stream for the purpose of upwardly dee fleeting the current and thereby preventing the deposit of material in the immediate .vicinity of the bafile structure. In Figure l7is illustrated a baille member a7 adapted vtobe anchored, as by means of posts 58er the like, to the bed of the stream, said member 57 being formed with two sets or rows of upwardly projecting baffle fingers or elements 59 of curved and twisted outline, the two sets of fingers inclining outwardly in opposite directions for correspondingly deflecting the secondary current and thereby causing the material, when finally precipitated, to be deposited in the vicinity of thel sides or banks of,l the stream. Figure 18 illustra-tes a similar construction comprising a baffle member 57 with two sets ofbaifl fingers 59', said member 57', however, being of V-'shape and coni/'erging forwardly in the directiony of the current as well as down-l wardly within the bed of the stream; this structure is further adapted for more sluggish currents, the angular and inclined arrangement of the baille structure exerting a more effective lifting and deflecting action upon such currents, with the same general effect as already described in connection with Figure 17. In Figures 19 and 21 is illustrated a baille member 60, likewise adapted to he anchored to the bed of the stream, and formed with defiecting fingers or elements 61 of curved outline and in two sets slanting obliquely toward each other in such a manner as to deflect the minor or secondary currents toward each other into substantially a central path corresponding to the middle line of the stream. The action of such `a baille structure serves to exert an equalizing effect' upon lthe current i'low,

breaking up any eddies therein, and causing any material thatis precipitated to be deposited along saidcentral line after the secondary deflected currents have left the immediate vicinity of the baiilestructure.

In Figure 2O is also illustrated a modified form of baille struct-ure designedv for the same function of overcoming objectional eddies in the main current ilow, as welly as a modifiedy form of. support for the baille structure. In this case the 'bafile means comprises a baille member 63 supporting a plurality of inclined and parallel baille elements 640i' helical outline, the member 63 being suspended by means of hangers 65 carried by a horizontalrod 66 suspended bef Such'r tween a pair of upright members 67. an arrangement of baille meansacts tor effectively comb out the fmain current of the stream, deflecting the minor currents pro'- duced thereby in either an upward or downward direction, depending upon the angle at which the baffle structure is presented to the current. In Figure 22 is illustrated a baillel unit 6810i. helical. form, such as com prises one of the units 64 of the-baille member 63, said unit 68 'being adapted to-be'constructed in any size and usedeither singly or in a combination of any desired number of said units, for obtaining practicallyv any desired breaking up or deflection of the current flowr ofa stream, depending' uponk the operative position in whichA said unit or units 68 are-disposed with relation tothe current.

In general it maybe stated with reference-to the types of construction illustrated in Figures 17 and- 22, inclusive, that these forms of construction may be usedv to particular advantage in preventing the formation of objectionable barsor ridges by the settling of sand,` or other material carried by the stream, accomplishing this function bythe cont-roly of the currents movement. through the breaking up and deil'ection thereof as above described; such a result is of advantage at such points as the coniluence of two streams, where the formation of bars may be-eiiectively preventedv by the operati'onof one or more ofthe described baille structures and thus establishing and maintaining an open, navigable channel or waterway of a permanent character.

In Figures 23'and25 I illustrate a simpliiied form ofbaille member 70formed with a single set or` row of baille'- fingers 71 of curved and slightly twisted outline and gradually increasing in length from one end of the row to the other. rPhe opposite ends of the member 70 are provided with= bolt openings 72 whereby said be reversiblymounted upon a bolt 73 carried by a rotatable block 74. which is adapted to be clamped` by means .offa' set screw 75 in a bearingfbracket` 7 6 carriedby a supmember may .lub

lll!

porting member or upright 77. In this way, the baffle member is supported for universal adjustment, permitting said member to be positioned at any desired angle to the current, including the angular adjustment of said member in its reversed position shown in Figure 25, the dotted lines in Figure 23 illustrating the baffle member presented in horizontal position. It is obvious that, by means of this type of baffle structure, practically any desired deflection of the minor currents produced by the baffle fingers may be obtained; of course, any number of units 70 may be employed, and the same used in conjunction with any of the other forms of construction already described as particular conditions may require.

ln Figures 26 and 27 I illustrate a form vof baffle member 8O of curved outline and provided with outwardly curved baffle or deflecting fingers 81, to be presented in the direction of the current, said member 8O being carried by a supporting bracket 82 having a spindle 83 adapted to be received in a socket at the upper end of a supporting member or upright 84 and clamped thereto by means of a set screw 85; this method of mounting obviously permits any desired adjustment of the position of the baffle member with reference to the axis o-f the spindle 83. The function of this type of baffle structure is to modify the current flow by not only slightly retarding the same, but lifting the current and flattening it out, and can be employed for the purpose of building up a bar by the settling of the material carried by the current.

The construction shown in Figures Z8 and 29 comprises a baffle member 87 in the` form of a plate provided with interior V- shaped bafile elements 88 converging to the center line of the plate 87 and curved in the same direction out of the plane of the plate, as shown in Figure 29. The plate 87 is adapted to be mounted in the same manner as shown and described for the baffle member 8O (see Figure 26), in order to permit of the adjustment of the plate 87 about a vertical aXis. This construction valso operates as a current retarding and elevating baffle structure, but tends to converge the baffled current, so that any material precipitated thereby will be eventually deposited along a limited path; or, the device may, by suitable positioning of the same, be used for shaving down a bar by directing the currents thereon at the proper angle.

The function of the various types or modifications of baffle construction illustrated in the drawings has been indicated in the description pertaining to each of the forms, the principle of the operation being substantially the same in all of them, namely, the interception of the current flow,

the deflection thereof, and simultaneous production of a multiplicity of minor or secondary currents; the character and direction of these lcurrents depend upon the specific type of the baffle structure used, andk the particular position it occupies with ref#Y erence to the current of the stream. The invention does not, therefore, operate simply as a dam 'or jetty, which depend upon the obstruction or deflection en masse of the` entire body of water intercepted, without such modication thereof (by the breaking up and formation of secondary deflected currents) as effected by the imlproved baffle structure. Moreover, the improved structure is practically non-fouling, and selfcleaning, by the action of the water, and functions automatically, in that in the event of high-water destroying or removing the whole or a part of an adjacent bar designed to be maintained by the operation of the baffle structure, the latter will at once resume its function of rebuilding the bar to its normal size. Obviously, the various forms of baffle structures may be used in a series containing any number of units of either the same type of unit or different units in combination, according to the Work to be done, for cutting away or building up a bar (the arrangement of baffles being such as to carry the material toward or away from a certain location), or for protecting a certain location from the deposit of material, and so forth, as indicated in the foregoing description.

lt is also apparent that modifications may be made in the specific details of construction set forth within the scope of the invention, and l desire to reserve the right to make all such changes as may fairly and properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

That I claim is:

1. Current interrupting and deflecting means comprising a normally stationary' device adapted to be submerged in the path of a steadily moving current and provided with a plurality of baffle blades of curved and twisted outline projecting in the path of the current and operative to retard, break up and deflect the current at an angle to its normal path.

2. Current interrupting and deflecting means comprising a normally stationary device adapted to be submerged in the path of a steadily moving current and provided with a plurality of baffle blades of curved and twisted contour and arranged in a row presented at an angle to the current and operative to comb the current and thereby break up and deflect the same at an angle to its normal path.

3. Current interrupting and deflecting means comprising a normally stationary device adapted to be submerged in the path of a steadily moving current and in a position extending at an angle to the horizontal, one margin of said device being formed with a plurality of baiile lingers of curved and twisted contour presented obliquely to the path of the current and operative to break up and deflect the same at an angle to the normal path thereof.

t. Current interrupting and deiieeting y10 means comprising a normally stationary de- Vice adapted to be submerged in the path of a steadily moving current and provided with a plurality of parallel rows of baille blades of curved and twisted outline projecting in the path of the current and operative to break up and deiieet the same at an angle to its normal path.

In Witness whereof I hereunto signature.

aiiix my LEVIS H. FALLEY. 

